Getting paid $11 million and being cut twice

The struggling Kansas City Chiefs cut cornerback Stanford Routt this week, nine months after the Oakland Raiders cut Routt one year into his three-year, $31.5 million contract.

According to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, despite getting cut twice since February, Routt will still make $11 million this year — $5 million in guaranteed money from the Raiders, and $6 million from the Chiefs.
It's a minor mystery that KC cut Routt after giving him a three-year, $19.6 million deal this offseason, $6 million of which was guaranteed. The team is 1-7, and they hardly seem in a position to toss aside a player they just made a huge financial commitment to.

Unlike other major professional sports, NFL contracts are mostly non-guaranteed. That's why teams release players so often — there's no financial liability. But Routt wasn't one of those non-guaranteed guys.
Routt cleared waivers today, and is free to sign with any team.

The 29-year-old allowed a dreadful 64.1 completion percentage, 491 yards, and three touchdowns in seven games as Kansas City's right corner this year, according to Pro Football Focus. Quarterbacks had an astronomical 111.9 rating throwing at Routt.

The 29-year-old allowed a dreadful 64.1 completion percentage, 491 yards, and three touchdowns in seven games as Kansas City's right corner this year, according to Pro Football Focus. Quarterbacks had an astronomical 111.9 rating throwing at Routt.

The 29-year-old allowed a dreadful 64.1 completion percentage, 491 yards, and three touchdowns in seven games as Kansas City's right corner this year, according to Pro Football Focus. Quarterbacks had an astronomical 111.9 rating throwing at Routt.

The 29-year-old allowed a dreadful 64.1 completion percentage, 491 yards, and three touchdowns in seven games as Kansas City's right corner this year, according to Pro Football Focus. Quarterbacks had an astronomical 111.9 rating throwing at Routt.

That is incredibly bad. Credit the Chiefs coaches after 491 yards for finally realizing this. I mean it only took them 7 games.